NJPW Destruction in Kobe: Results, Grades, and Analysis

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On September 23, NJPW presented the final show in their Destruction tour, with a main event featuring two of the biggest stars in NJPW.

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchia Okada have had one of the most storied rivalries in the last 20 years of wrestling. They met again in the main event of NJPW Destruction in Kobe. Hiroshi Tanahashi used to have Okada’s number, defeating him in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom twice. However, Okada finally defeated him in 2015 at Wrestle Kingdom. Since then, Tanahashi was unable to defeat him, and the two other times they wrestled they went to a draw. Tanahashi, upon winning the G1, knew that he had to defeat Okada to show that he was still the Ace. In the main event, he had his chance to show it. As always, this show can be viewed in its entirety on NJPW World.

Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura

These two young lions went the full 10 minutes in a basic match, seeing them come to yet another draw.

Result: Draw

Rating: ** (2 stars out of 5)

Ren Narita & Shota Umino vs. Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) (CHAOS) w/ Rocky Romero

This one went pretty much exactly as you would predict, with RPG 3K defeating the young lions after a few minutes. This was a really solid tag, showing that we might see a nice feud between SHO & YOH against Narita and Umino in the future.

Result: RPG 3K

Rating: **1/2

Tiger Mask & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

Suzuki-gun immediately attacked Liger and Tiger Mask while they were walking to the ring, stopping Liger’s theme from playing, which is a crime against humanity. Liger and Tiger Mask briefly regained the advantage when Liger hit a series of palm strikes. The rest of the match saw Liger and Mask completely dominated by Suzuki-gun, but Tiger Mask managed to cradle Kanemaru and get the pinfall out of nowhere! It looks like Liger and Tiger Mask are going to get a title shot against Suzuki-gun (who are the reigning champions).

Result: Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask

Rating: **3/4 (2.75 Stars out of 5)

Thankfully, Liger’s theme played after the match, which makes up for it being cut off early.

Ayato Yoshida, Ryusuke Taguchi, GBH (Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe) vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima, & Hiroyoshi Tenzan

It’s interesting seeing Yoshida mixed in with all the veterans here, but it’s clear that he’s moving up the Young Lion ranks quite quickly. It was fantastic to see Kojima back to form here, and he looked great every single time he was in there. Taguchi, being the good coach that he is, directed traffic for his team in the corner. Honma missed his headbutt a few times, in his classic spot, before hitting it on Tenzan.

Tenzan managed to hit a suplex on Makabe, but Honma broke it up. Nagata came in and kicked Makabe, but he seemed to like it. Nagata yelled “Makabe!” as he hit the ropes, and Makabe hit a powerslam on Nagata. Yoshida came in and kicked Nagata several times, but Nagata kicked out. I’m really impressed with Ayato. He was a good find from the Kaientai Dojo. Nagata got the win with a suplex and pinned Yoshida.

Result: Nagata, Nakanishi, Kojima, & Tenzan

Rating: **1/2 (2.5 stars out of 5)

The Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Baretta) (CHAOS) vs. Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) (Suzuki-gun)

Baretta and Taylor learned from the match at the show before by taking it right to Suzuki-gun and brawling all around ringside before hitting a double dropkick on Archer, who was laying on the apron. However, KES managed to over power them and they started to get the heat on Baretta. Taylor was able to avoid the clothesline from a Hart Attack and hit a DDT on Smith, but when both men went for a dive, KES caught them.

Baretta and Taylor managed to stun KES though, and Taylor did a tope con hilo to the outside before missing a moonsault on Archer. Taylor also moved out of the way when Archer tried a moonsault of his own. Archer kicked out after getting hit with a double stomp by Taylor. Baretta and Taylor fought with him for a bit, but finally managed to hit a double suplex on Archer. KES managed to take control back and went for the Killer Bomb on Baretta, but Baretta, upon getting hit with it, actually rolled Archer up and got the pinfall!

Result: The Best Friends

Rating: *** (3 Stars out of 5)

This was excellent, seeing The Best Friends beat KES who were dominating since returning to NJPW on tour. It looks like The Best Friends are going to be in the tag team title picture going forward, and I’m all for that.

Toa Henare, David Finlay, & Juice Robinson vs. CHAOS (Will Opsreay, YOSHI-HASHI, Jay White)

One of the major stories of this match was concerning YOSHI-HASHI and his conflict with Jay White, Okada, and the overall chaos in CHAOS. YOSHI-HASHI and David Finlay exchanged some offense before Ospreay was tagged in and he ran wild. Ospreay hit a handspring twisting kick, a 619 on Finlay, and then a double springboard flip dive to the outside on Henare and Robinson, landing on his feet.

Henare was brawling with White in the ring not long after, and there were some miscommunications between the CHAOS trio before White hit the Blade Runner on Henare, getting the pinfall. White argued with YOSHI-HASHI after the match, and Ospreay and YOSHI-HASHI left White in the ring after the match.

Result: CHAOS

Rating **1/2 (2.5 Stars out of 5)

Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito) vs. Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, Zack Sabre Jr., & Minoru Suzuki)

Suzuki-gun took it to LIJ right away, seeing Suzuki resume trying to murder Naito. They brawled all over ringside before it was brought back into the ring, and Naito was overwhelmed for a short while before finally hitting a forearm and making the mot tag to EVIL. After some work back and forth, EVIL hit Everything is EVIL on TAKA for the pinfall victory.

Result: LIJ

Rating: *** (3 Stars out of 5)

After the match, Suzuki killed some Young Lions before going backstage. Naito, walking backstage up the ramp, proceeded to stomp on those same Young Lions, which made me laugh. I wonder what NJPW has in store for both Naito and Suzuki. Clearly, they are both in a bit of a limbo now that Naito was able to defeat Suzuki a second time at the previous Destruction show. Whatever happens going forth, you have to think that are major plans in place for the both of them at Wrestle Kingdom. I expect we might have Chris Jericho waiting to be involved with the both of them, and maybe we’ll be hearing from him at Fighting Spirit Unleashed or King of Pro Wrestling.

BUSHI (Los Ingobernables de Japon) vs. KUSHIDA: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament Semi-Final Match

KUSHIDA started the match out fast, but BUSHI soon cut him off with some heelish offense on the outside of the ring, sending KUSHIDA into the guard rails a few times before bringing it back to the ring. BUSHI hit a dropkick off the middle rope to KUSHIDA, who was laying on the middle rope. BUSHI locked on a crossface on KUSHIDA, but KUSHIDA made it to the ropes. KUSHIDA hit a swinging neckbreaker on BUSHI, leaving both men on the mat.

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Both men started to exchange forearms and chops with BUSHI slapping KUSHIDA to end it. KUSHIDA kicked BUSHI in the arm, and went for his rolling clothesline, but BUSHI caught him with the MX! KUSHIDA rolled to the outside of the ring, and BUSHI hit a suicide dive, but KUSHIDA caught his arm and locked him in an armbar after eating the dive! That was awesome.

BUSHI and KUSHIDA made it back to the ring, and after running the ropes, BUSHI hit a Canadian Destroyer on KUSHIDA. BUSHI went for the MX off the middle ropes, but KUSHIDA caught him and put him in the Hoverboard Lock! BUSHI was rolled back to the middle of the ring, hitting the referee. BUSHI spit the poison mist into KUSHIDA’s eyes, but was unable to pin him. KUSHIDA countered and hit Back to the Future once, and a second time for the pinfall victory!

Result: KUSHIDA

Rating: **** (4 Stars out of 5)

This was an excellent junior match, where a lot expected BUSHI to win. However, there is a reason that KUSHIDA is the Ace of the Junior Division, and he showed it here with another outstanding performance. KUSHIDA is one of the very best in the world today. While it’s easy to criticize the decision that NJPW made here, I am willing to give Gedo the benefit of the doubt and wait to see how this plays out when a new champion is crowned at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling.

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada (CHAOS) – Tokyo Dome Main Event Match

Tanahashi and Okada did not start this one slow, exchanging a series of forearms in the early portion of the match. Tanahashi went outside and smashed Okada’s knee over the apron. However, Okada is not one to take a beating lying down, and he went right after the weak knee of Tanahashi. Okada worked over the knee for several minutes, but Tanahashi was able to hit a chop block and a dragon screw leg whip. Okada and Tanahashi are both suffering with their knees, doing a great job of selling.

Okada went for his neckbreaker over the knee, but Tanahashi fought out and went for a twist and shout. Okada countered and went for a DDT, but Tanahashi hit a dropkick to Okada’s knee. Okada fought back and hit his neckbreaker, leaving both men on the mat. Tanahashi went to the top rope, but Okada dropkicked him off. Tanahashi caught himself before falling to the floor, and as he tried to get back onto the turnbuckle, Okada went over and began to smash and strike Tanahashi’s knee. Tanahashi had to get up untangling himself from the turnbuckle.

Okada immediately did a knee breaker, and then locked on the figure four leglock, making Ric Flair proud. This was a different tactic from Okada, who is looking to submit the Ace with a move he doesn’t do often. However, like the best wrestlers do, Okada executed the move perfectly, leaving Tanahashi screaming in pain. Okada smiled as he knew the match was in hand. Tanahashi rolled to the ropes and outside the ring, but Okada drove Tanahashi’s knee into the floor.

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Somehow, Tanahashi managed to pick Okada up and hit a tombstone, injuring his own knee in the process, but leaving Okada out on the floor! Tanahashi climbed the top rope, and decided to break the count at 15. Tanahashi flew to the outside with a massive High Fly Flow, driving Okada to the floor, but hurting his knee again in the process. Amazing spot right here. Tanahashi refused to take the count out again, and rolled Okada in. Tanahashi went for the sling blade, but Okada countered and went for the Rainmaker.

Tanahashi countered and hit the Twist and Shout, before hitting a sling blade. Okada got his knees up when Tanahashi went for the High Fly Flow, leaving Tanahashi in a crumpled heap on the mat. Okada was also slow to get up, because he’s been injured quite badly by Tanahashi. Neither man was able to hit a tombstone, so they settled for exchanging forearms. Okada nailed a dropkick to the knee, and Tanahashi was not able to run the ropes because of it.

Tanahashi hit a sunset flip, but Okada kicked out. Tanahashi hit a dragon screw, but Okada hit a dropkick after. Tanahashi went for the dragon suplex, but Okada countered. Okada went for the Death Valley Driver, but Tanahashi countered into a neckbreaker! They exchanged tombstone attempts, but Okada countered and went for the spinning Rainmaker. Tanahashi slapped Okada, and Okada hit a dropkick to the back of Tanahashi’s knee. Tanahashi countered the Rainmaker wit ha sling blade and went for the High Fly Flow! Tanahashi hit it, but he couldn’t complete the pinfall, and Okada barely kicked out.

Tanahashi climbed back up to hit another, but Okada countered and dropkicked him out of midair! Amazing. Okada hit the tombstone, but he had a hard time getting up because of his knee. Okada went for the Rainmaker, but Tanahashi countered. After a few more counters, Okada hit the spinning Rainmaker, and he went for one more, but Tanahashi countered and hit the dragon suplex, but Okada literally kicked out at the last micro-second. Tanahashi went to the top rope again, but Okada cut him off with a dropkick again!

Okada tried to give Tanahashi a tombstone off the middle rope, but Tanahashi countered and fought out. Okada got back up and went for a gut wrench suplex, but Tanahashi fought him off again. Tanahashi slapped him and hit a High Fly Flow as he was falling off the middle rope to the mat! That was incredible. Tanahashi hit a second one while Okada was standing, and barely made it back to the top rope for a third, but Tanahashi hit and got the 1-2-3! Hiroshi Tanahashi finally defeated Okada for the first time since 2015!

Result: Hiroshi Tanahashi

Rating: ****** (Six Stars out of Five)

Jay White ran out and immediately attacked Tanahashi with a Sling Blade. After leaving Okada laying, White started to stomp on Okada. The Young Lions tried to stop him, but White beat them all up. White went up to Rocky Romero, and threw him aside, knocking his CHAOS stablemate over, before grabbing a chair and bringing it back to the ring. YOSHI-HASHI made his way down to the ring to make the save, and accidentally busted himself open on the apron. White hit him with a chair and sent him to the outside before checking on him (which was nice, because he was legit injured).

White made it look like he was taunting him, but it was a classy move. Gedo ran down and took the chair from White. Okada stood up and faced White, while Gedo nailed Okada with the chair! Gedo turned on Okada! White hit Okada with a Blade Runner! It appears that Gedo has kicked Okada and YOSHI-HASHI both out of CHAOS, though Okada is going to continue to team with Ishii at NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed. Maybe Okada will need to join Tanahashi to regain his position at the top? NJPW might see a new stable formed with Tanahashi, and maybe them joining forces to combat Jay White. We are probably going to get clarity on this soon. It’s possible that both will still be in CHAOS, and that this is just the start of a long power struggle. This was an incredible angle. Gedo announced that both Tanahashi and Okada both aren’t going to the main event of the Tokyo Dome, because White beat them both, so White is going to the main event.

Gedo said he only sides with winners, not losers like the two guys on the mat. It’s the Switchblade Era, and that it was coming soon. It looks like Switchblade is going to challenge Okada next for the title shot at Wrestle Kingdom. Maybe we’ll see that match at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling in October. This was one heck of a closing angle, as Gedo turned on Okada after 6 years of cornering him. This was absolutely insane.

Final Thoughts

Show Rating: **** (4 stars out of 5)

The last match and the ending angle are the only thing people are going to be talking about here, as Gedo betrayed Okada. YOSHI-HASHI looked legit injured, so I hope he’s okay. Okada has been left completely broken, and carried out of the arena by the young lions. The picture of Okada being carried out was very similar to when he lost in his second Tokyo Dome match against Tanahashi. He looked completely and utterly broken. Have we seen the fall of the Rainmaker? Have we seen the resurrection of the Ace? Switchblade Jay White insists there is neither, and it’s his time now. With Gedo in his corner, maybe he’s right.

NJPW has setup several stories here, and ones that will carry them forward into next year. NJPW has established a new main event heel with Jay White. Time will tell if that will be a match we get at Wrestle Kingdom, but NJPW seems to be heading quite strongly in that direction. NJPW also seemed firm in wanting to establish Tanahashi as a guy who can still be the Ace and number one guy, and having him defeat Okada cleanly was a great way to do it. The next big step for Tanahashi looks to be Omega at Wrestle Kingdom in the main event, but we shall see how that goes at Tanahashi still has a grudge to settle with Jay White.

What is next for Tanahashi and Okada both will be very interesting to see. How all of this works going forward will be absolutely must see, and you can bet that what has happened here will have major effects on NJPW’s storytelling. NJPW consistently tells long term stories well, and this looks to be one that is going to be huge going forward.